Broadcast seed-sower.



PATENTED JULY 25. 1905.

D. E. SPEIGHER. BROADCAST SEED SOWERQ APPLICATION FILED JUNE 5. 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

INI/E/VTOR WITNESSES:

mm" a clwmu on. minimum": wmmm'ou. me

No. 795,559. PATENTED JULY 25, 1905. D. E. SPEIGHER. BROADCAST SEED SOWER. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 5. 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR 'ANDRLW n UAHAM ca. nmounmmmrm \mwnm'mnc UN rrnn STATES PATENT oFFIoE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 25, 1905.

Application filed June 5, 1905- Qerial No. 263,769.

To all 1071/0777. it may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL E. SPEICHER, residing at Urbana, in the county of W'abash and State of Indiana, have invented a new and Improved Broadcast Seed-Sower, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is in the nature of an improved hand-operated broadcast seed-sower; and it primarily has for its object to provide a means -of the character stated of a very simple and economical construction adapted to uniformly sow or distribute the seed and in which the operation can be effected in a more convenient manner and with less exertion on the part of the operator than is possible in the ordinary forms of sowers of this kind heretofore provided.

In its generic nature my invention embodies a new and novel combination of the seed-supporting frame, the whirling wheel, and a power-transmission means including a crank having its shank mounted in the main frame or body portion of the machine-and gear connections between the crank-shaft and the whirling-wheel, whereby the motion of the crank-shaft is imparted to the whirling-wheel to rotate the same in either direction, the several parts having a special cooperative arrangement whereby the seed can be uniformly fed to the wheel and the wheel properly rotated with a minimum amount of exertion on the part of the user and without any material impeding of a proper centrifugal throw of the seed.

My invention also includes a special construction of gate device for regulating the flow of seed from the holder to the whirlingwheel and means cooperatively connected with the gate and the whirling-wheel shaft for agitating the gate; and theinvention alsoincludes certain improvements in construction of the distributing or whirling wheel and means for detachably holding the whirlingwheel and its adjusted parts in proper position on the machine-frame.

My invention in its more subordinate features comprises certain novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, all of which will be first described in detail and then specifically pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating my invention. Fig. 2 is an inverted perspective view of the same, parts of the distributer or whirling-wheel being broken away to show the construction more clearly. Fig. 3 is a central vertical longitudinal section of my invention. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the distributer or whirling-wheel and its shaft detached. Fig. 6 is a cross-section on the line 6 6 of Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the gate detached, and Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of the ferrule hereinafter referred to.

In the drawings, in which like characters indicate like parts in all of the figures, 1 designates the board that forms the bottom of the seed-holder and the support for the distributing mechanism, presently referred to. The bag 2 is secured to the board in the usual manner, as is also the strap 3 for supporting the machine from the shoulders of the operator. (See Fig. 1.) Near the front end the bottom or board 1 has a rectangular dischargeopening 1, surrounded on the bottom side by a flanged plate 4, which includes the flange portion 4 as shown. The discharge-opening is controlled by a cut-off plate or gate 5, slidable on the under side of the board 1 and in contact with the flange 4 of the plate 4, a guide-rod 1 beingprovided to hold the plate against the flanged portion 4 of the plate 4, which forms a rim around the discharge-opening 1 of the board 1. At the rear end the plate 5 has a tang 5, provided with an aperture 5 to receive the angled portion 6 of the shifting-rod 6, which is pivotally secured to the board 1 at 6 and is adapted to be held to itsadjusted positions by a detachable device 7 consisting of a spring-rod bent upon itself to form a loop 7 slidable under a guide-clip 8 on the board 1, and to cooperate with a winged nut 9 to provide for shifting said device 7. One of the ends of the detent-rod 7 terminates in an angled stop 7 and the other in a beveled stop 7 y with which the outer end of the rod 6 engages, as shown. The rod 6 projects beyond the edge of the board 1 and has an angled portion 6, which projects in the same plane as the rod 6, butat right angles thereto, and the rod 6 terminates beyond the angled portion 6 in a finger-engaging portion 6, asshown. By providingashiftingand detachable mechanism, as described, it is manifest that the detent can be set to the position necessary to provide for the desired adjustment of the cut-0H or gate 5.

1O designates a spring-rod having portions 1O adapted to be secured to the board 1 by screws or bolts, as shown, and the said springrod has bent portions 10 10 which are continued in the horizontal arms 10 10, arranged parallel to the board or bottom 1 and which terminate in the loop-bearing 10, surrounding shaft 11, which carries a distributing or whirling wheel, presently described. The other end of the shaft 11 seats in the bearing 11", secured to the bottom 1, and adjacent the bearing 11 the shaft 11 carries a cam 12 and a pinion 13, as shown.

The shaft 11, as before stated, carries a pinion 13 and is so disposed relatively to the throat or discharge-opening 1 that its pinion does not project into the opening or into the path of the discharging material.

14c designates a master drive-pinion journaled upon a pendent stud-bolt 14c and made fast to a plate 1 1, secured to the bottom 1 and held in a plane with the pinion 13, with which it meshes, as clearly shown in Figs. 3

and 4, by reference to which it will be seen that both the pinions 13 and 14 are placed close up against the board 1 and by reason of said position are held out of the way of interfering with the proper operation of the whirling or distributing wheel. Integrally formed with the master or drive pinion 14c and between the same and the plate 1a is a bevelpinion '14, which meshes with a bevel-gear 15, secured to the crank-shaft 15 and held to turn in the cut-away or slotted portion 1 of the base-board 1. The shaft 15 passes through a transverse bore l in the base-board 1, which bore serves as bearings for the shaft 15, and the bevel-pinion 15 is secured to the shaft 15 by a set-screw 15 as shown. The shaft 15 projects out beyond the side of the base-board 1 and is bent into an angle-arm 15 which terminates in the angle portion 15, as shown.

The cut-off plate or gate 5 is provided with a bifurcated or forked portion 5 which extends on each side of the shaft 11 and has bentu p flange portions 5, which cooperate with the cam 12, whereby when the shaft 11 is rotated the cam 12 will agitate the gate 5.

The distributing-wheel is formed of sheet metal, as shown, with a dished bottom plate and vertically radially extending wings.

In my present invention the distributingwheel is preferably formed of sections of like shape, preferably four in number, each of which has the same blank or initial form and is of substantially the same construction as the distributing-wheel disclosed in the Patent 712,342, dated October 28, 1902, and granted to myself and V. Itousey. In the present con-. struction of distributing-wheel, however, the shaft 11 is provided with a ferrule 11 which fits over the meeting ends of the flanges a of the distributing-wheel A at its center, a nut 11 being provided to hold the distributing-wheel in position on the ferrule and to the shaft 11.

By reference to Figs. 3, 6, and 8, respectively, it will be seen that the ferrule 11 is a tubular member having slots 11 to receive the ends of the flanges a of the distributingwheel A, said distributing-wheel flanges a having notches a (see Fig. 3) to cooperate with the slots 11 of the ferrule 11, as shown. The ferrule 11 has an aperture to receive the squared or nut portion 11 of the shaft 11, which shaft 11 is also formed with a collar 11 which, together with the nut 11 holds the shaft 11 and its attached parts to the distributing-wheel A, as well as holding the ferrule in place.

The sections of the distributing-wheel may be fastened together by eyelets or rivets, as shown.

16 designates a handle member secured to the board 1 and adapted to be grasped by the left hand of the operator, while the right hand is used for turning the crank, which operates the distributing mechanism.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it is thought the complete operation, construction, and many advantages of my invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which it appertains.

In operation the operator suspends the sower on his shoulders in the usual manner and sows the seed by simply turning the crank-handle in either direction which may be convenient to him, the amount of seed sown being regulated by the adjustment of the gate or cut-off slide 5, as clearly understood by reference to the drawings.

By simply interchanging the handlesthat is, slipping the crank-shaft in from the left side and placing carrying-handle on the right side the sower becomes a left-handed sower, and thus the machine is either a right or left hand sower, as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination in a seeding-machine of the character described, with a seed-holder including a bottom board having a distributingthroat, a distributing-wheel, and the operating means therefor, of a cut-off slidable over 7 the discharge-throat, having a rearwardly-extending tang, a transversely-disposed pivotally-mounted rod, and a detent for the rod, consisting of a spring-rod bent upon itself to form a loop, said loop being slidably held on the under side of the bottom board of the seedholder, one end of the loop portion terminating in a pendent angle-lug, and the other end having a beveled projection, means for clamping theloop member to its adjusted positions, and means connected with the distributingwheel shaft for agitating said cut-off substantially as shown and described.

2. A broadcast seeder comprising in combination, a seed receptacle having a bottom board provided with a discharge-opening, a horizontally-disposed distributing-wheel und'er said opening, a drive-shaft for said wheel having its outer end adjacent said opening, a pinion and a cam on the upper end of the drive-shaft in close proximity to the bottom board of the receptacle, a stud projected down from said board, a mastergear mounted thereon to mesh with said pinion, a crankshaft journaled in apertures in the board, a bevel-gear on said crank-shaft, a bevel-pinion secured to said master-gear for meshing with said crank-shaft pinion, a gate for closing the opening in the board, said gate having a pinion for cooperating with the cam on the distributing-wheel shaft to agitate the gate as the distributing-wheel is rotated, substantially as shown and described.

3. A seeder of the character stated, comprising in combination with the seed-receptacle having a bottom board, an outlet-aperture in said bottom board, a flanged plate surrounding said outlet-aperture, a cut-off or gate held over said outlet-aperture, means for adjusting said gate to open or close the aperture, a distributingwheel having a shaft mounted below said bottom board, said bottom board having a bearing-plate to receive one end of the distributing-wheel shaft, a spring-arm secured to the bottom board and having a bearing portion to receive the other end of said distributing-wheel shaft, and a cam on said distributing-wheel shaft, said gate having a forked portion to straddle said cam, and means mounted on the bottom board for imparting rotary motion to the distributingwheel, all being arranged substantially as shown and described.

4,. A seeder of the character stated, comprising in combination with the seed-receptacle having a bottom board, an outlet-aperture in said bottom board, a flanged plate surrounding said outlet-aperture, a cut-off or gate held over said outlet-aperture, means for adjusting said gate to open or close the aperture, a distributingwheel having a shaft mounted below said bottom board, said bottom board having a bearing-board to receive one end of the distributing-wheel shaft, a spring-arm secured to the bottom board and having a bearing portion to receive the other end of said distributing-wheel shaft, and a cam on said distributingwheel shaft, said gate having a forked portion to straddle said cam, and means mounted on the bottom board for imparting rotary motion to the distributing-wheel, said last-named means comprising a pinion on the distributing-wheel shaft, a master-gear mounted on the bottom board, and meshing with the said pinion, a bevel-pinion secured to the master-gear, a crank-shaft mounted in apertures in the bottom board, a bevel-pinion carried by said crank-shaft for meshing with the master-gear pinion, and a crank-arm formed with said crank-shaft, all being arranged substantially as shown and described.

5. In an apparatus of the character stated, a distributing-wheel comprising a plurality of sections having upwardly-bent flanges, eyelets securing said flanges together, a distributing wheel shaft, a ferrule mounted on said distributing-wheel shaft to receive the abutting ends of the distributing-wheel flanges, means cooperating with the distributing-wheel shaft for securing said distributing-Wheel to the ferrule and shaft, all being arranged substantially as shown and described.

6. A broadcast seed-sewer comprising a re-' ceptacle for the seed including a bottom boardv having a discharge, a vertically-disposed operating-shaft, a horizontal distributing-wheel on said-shaft, a spring-arm secured to the bottom board having a bearing for said shaft below the wheel, a bearing for said shaft on the bottom board, a mechanism for imparting a rotary motion to the shaft located between the wheel and the bottom board, said mechanism including a crank having a crankshaft mounted in bearing-apertures in the bottom board, a bevel-pinion carried by said crank-shaft and held in the slotway of the bottom board, a master-gear having a bevelpinion for meshing with said crank shaft bevel-pinion, a pinion on the distributingwheel shaft for meshing with said master-gear, substantially as shown and described.

7 In a broadcast seed-sower as described, the combination with a wheel-rotating shaft; of a distributing-wheel formed of sheet metal, sections of like contour, each comprising a segment of a circle having a dished bottom portion, the tapering edges of which terminate in vertical flanges, means for fixedly connecting the flanges, a plate secured to the under side of the inner meeting endsof the several sections, said flanges having notches, said shaft having a collar and a squared portion, a tubular ferrule having an aperture to receive the squared portion of the shaft, said ferrule having slots to fit over the flanges of the distributing-whee] and cooperate with the notches therein, said shaft adapted to project through said ferrule and through said distributing-wheel and said plate having a threaded portion, and a nut for securing said shaft and said ferrule in position, on the distributing-wheel, substantially as shown and described.

8. A broadcast seed-sower comprising a receptacle for the seed, including a bottom board having a discharge, an operating-shaft, a horizontal distributing-wheel on said shaft, a spring-arm secured to the bottom board and having a bearing for said shaft below the wheel, a bearing for said shaft on the bottom board, means for imparting motion to the shaft located between the wheel and the bottom board, said means including a crankshaft mounted in bearing-apertures in the bottom board, a bevel-pinion carried by said crank-shaft and held in the slotway of the bottom board, a master-gear having a bevelpinion for meshing with said crank shaft bevel-pinion, a pinion on the distributingwheel shaft for meshing with the mastergear, a gate for closing the aperture in the bottom board, said distributing-wheel composed of sections having flanges secured together, a ferrule for fitting over the meeting ends of said flanges, said operating-shaft having a portion for interlocking with said ferrule and means connected with the gate and the distributing-wheel shaft for oscillating the gate;

9. A broadcast seed-sower comprising a receptacle for the seed, including a bottom board having a discharge, a vertically-disposed operating-shaft, a horizontal distributing-wheel on said shaft, a spring-arm secured to the bottom board having a bearing for said shaft below the wheel, a bearing for said shaft on the bottom board, a mechanism for imparting a rotary motion to the shaft located between the wheel and the bottom board, said mechanism including a crank having a crank-shaft mounted in bearing-apertures in the bottom board, a bevel-pinion carried by said crankshaft and held in the slotway of the bottom board, a master-gear having a bevel-pinion for meshing with said crank-shaft bevel-pin ion, a pinion on the distributing-wheel shaft for meshing with said master-gear, a gate for closing said discharge-aperture of the bottom board, said gate comprising a plate held over said aperture, means for holding said plate over said aperture, said plate having a projecting portion, a rod pivoted to the bottom board and passing through said projecting portion of the plate, means for holding said pivoted rod in its adjusted positions and means connected with the plate and the distributingwheel shaft for oscillating said plate, s1 ibstantially as shown and described.

10. A broadcast seed-sewer comprising a receptacle for the seed, including a bottom board having a discharge, a vertically-disposed operating-shaft, a horizontal distributing-wheel on said shaft, a spring-arm secured to the bottom board and having a bearing for said shaft below the Wheel, a bearing for said shaft on the bottom board, amechanism for imparting a rotary motion to the shaft located between the wheel and the bottom board, said mechanism including a crank having a crank-shaft mounted in bearing-apertures in the bottom board, a bevel-pinion carried by said crankshaft and held in the slotway of the bottom board, a master-gear having a bevel-pinion for meshing with said crank-shaft bevel-pinion, a pinion on the distributing-wheel shaft for meshing with said master-gear, a gate for closing said discharge-aperture of the bottom board, said gate comprising a plate held. over said aperture, means for holding said plate over said aperture, said plate having a projecting portion, a rod pivoted to the bottom board and passing through said projecting portion of the plate, means for holding said pivoted rod in its adjusted positions, and means connected with the plate, and the distributing wheel shaft for oscillating said plate, and a supplemental handle member pivotally se cured to the bottom board, substantially as shown and described.

DANIEL E. SPEIGHER.

Witnesses:

NAOMI SPEIOHER, L. O. STARK. 

